Ministers and other appointees of
President Muhammadu Buhari have remained in apprehension a month after his
return from London where he spent at least 103 days over a health issue.
It was discovered that the fear
continues to grow because there was earlier speculation that the president
could carry out a cabinet reshuffle once he returned from London.
The Nation also reported that the
president was further expected to announce some reforms.
The report said some the
president’s strategists are currently pushing for the retention of his Economic
Team while seeking a split of the ministry of power, works and housing into
three separate bodies.
While this is happening, there
are reports that some of the president’s strategists have presented five
options to him on the shape of his cabinet which Buhari is said to be weighing
currently.
Some of the reforms, according to
the report, include key appointments in the public service and the military;
cabinet; the fate of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the
Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb Ayo Oke.
Also included is the controversy over the
appointment of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.
“Now that the president has settled down,
ministers, advisers and other top government functionaries are all anxious for
his mid-term reforms. We know he has plans, which he has kept under wraps.
“The ministers are in the dark
whether there will be a shake-up in the cabinet or not. No one knows the
mindset of the president.
“We know that some issues/ matters had been
pending before the President traveled for Sallah and the United Nations,” the
source said.
Another top official was quoted
as saying: “For instance, some strategists/ kitchen cabinet members have been
prevailing on the president to retain his Economic Team, having exited
recession.
“They said the consolidation of the exit will
be faster than the dissolution of the team.
“A few strategists have
recommended the split of the ministry of power, works and housing into three as
the case before the cost saving measures of the president.
“Although three ministers are now
in charge of the ministry, they are calling for the assignment of full
portfolio to each of them.
“On cabinet reshuffling, there
are five options before the president. These are (a) a major shake-up;
replacement of few ministers, especially those with political ambition;
swapping of portfolios; allowing ministers to leave based on their own
volition; and retention of all ministers till the end of the tenure of this
administration
The president, the report said, is further
expected to take a decision on the military because of the imminent statutory
exit of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, who was
appointed on July 13, 2015.
Olonisakin was due for retirement
in 2016, but the president extended his tenure by one year because of the
ongoing war against Boko Haram.
“The president had been
contemplating some changes since it is obvious that Olonisakin will soon
retire.
“The present service chiefs are
the Chief of Army Staff, Gen.Tukur Yusuf Buratai (born on 24 November 1960 but
commissioned as an officer in 1983); the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar (born on April 8, 1960 but commissioned as a Nigerian Air
Force officer in 1983); and the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe
Ibas (born on 27th September 1960 but commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983).
“If anything is worrying the president is the
fear of losing good hands at a time the war against Boko Haram is at a crucial
stage.
“Olonisakin, who is a gentleman, has been
willing to leave were it not for the presidential extension of his service
year.
“It will be difficult to predict the nature of
reform the President will carry out in the military but as a
Commander-In-Chief, he knows what to do,” one source reportedly said.
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